Warriors Stun Rivals with Epic 4th-Quarter Comeback—See Highlights

The Golden State Warriors’ season has opened with a jolt of déjà vu, as a 111-108 home-opener defeat to the Memphis Grizzlies sent Steve Kerr’s group to an 0-2 start and exposed familiar late-game flaws. Golden State controlled most of the night, building a 12-point cushion midway through the fourth quarter behind Stephen Curry’s 24 points and a career-best burst from sophomore guard Brandin Podziemski, whose aggressive drives and timely threes electrified Chase Center. But Memphis flipped the script with a relentless 17-2 closing run, fueled by Cameron Boozer’s put-backs and Ja Morant’s paint pressure, while the Warriors coughed up four turnovers and missed six of their final seven shots. Kerr didn’t sugar-coat the collapse afterward, pointing to careless passing and a –12 rebounding margin in crunch time. “When we don’t value possessions, any lead can evaporate,” he said, vowing that the next practice will focus on late-game execution and defensive glass discipline. The outcome overshadowed encouraging signs. Five Warriors reached double figures — including Jonathan Kuminga’s efficient 16 and rookie center Kel’el Ware’s rim protection — showing the diversified scoring Kerr envisioned all preseason. Yet Golden State’s offensive rhythm froze when Curry was blitzed; the Grizzlies dared anyone else to initiate, and no Warrior registered a bucket in the final 3:07. Key takeaways for Dub Nation and fantasy managers: 1. Fourth-quarter woes persist. The Warriors ranked 25th in clutch net rating last season; early numbers suggest the issue remains. 2. Podziemski’s leap is real. His secondary playmaking (six assists) kept ball movement alive for three quarters and may push him permanently into Kerr’s closing five. 3. Frontcourt depth is tested. Draymond Green’s minutes restriction and Kevon Looney’s foul trouble left Ware isolated against Memphis’ twin-tower look. Expect lineup tweaks against bigger Western Conference opponents. Looking ahead, the Warriors embark on a four-game road trip starting Monday in Phoenix, where Kevin Durant awaits. A win there would calm nerves, but another late-game stumble could fast-track roster decisions before November’s in-season tournament. For now, the message is clear: Golden State’s championship aspirations hinge on turning 45 scrappy minutes into 48 focused ones — and that transformation must start immediately.